Bone and Soft Tissue Oncology Program
Kaposi's Sarcoma
What Is Kaposi's Sarcoma? | Risk Factors | Symptoms and Diagnosing | Stages | Treatment | About Clinical Trials | Greenebaum Cancer Center
Stages
There is no accepted staging system for Kaposi's sarcoma. Patients are grouped depending on which type of Kaposi's sarcoma they have. There are four types:
- Classic: Classic Kaposi's sarcoma usually occurs in older men of
Jewish, Italian or Mediterranean heritage. This type of Kaposi's sarcoma progresses
slowly, sometimes over 10 to 15 years. As the disease gets worse, the lower
legs may swell and the blood may not be able to flow properly. After some
time, the disease may spread to other organs. Many patients with classic Kaposi's
sarcoma may develop another type of cancer later in life.
- Immunosuppressive Treatment Related: Kaposi's sarcoma may occur in
people who are taking drugs to make their immune systems weaker (immunosuppressants).
The immune system helps the body fight off infection. People who have had
an organ transplant (such as a liver or kidney transplant) have to take drugs
to prevent their immune system from attacking the new organ.
- Epidemic: Kaposi's sarcoma in patients who have AIDS is called epidemic
Kaposi's sarcoma. AIDS is caused by a virus called the human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV), which attacks and weakens the immune system. Infections and other
diseases can then invade the body, and the immune system cannot fight against
them. Kaposi's sarcoma in people with AIDS usually spreads more quickly than
other kinds of Kaposi's sarcoma and often is found in many parts of the body.
- Recurrent: Kaposi's sarcoma has come back (recurred) after it has been treated. It may come back in the area where it first started or in another part of the body.
This page was last updated on: March 3, 2008.
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